FULL RECOMMENDATION
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACTS, 1946 TO 2001 SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990 PARTIES : CENTRAL BANK OF IRELAND - AND - SERVICES INDUSTRIAL PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL UNION AMALGAMATED TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS' UNION DIVISION : Chairman: Mr Duffy Employer Member: Mr Keogh Worker Member: Mr O'Neill |
1. Euro claim.
BACKGROUND:
2. The Central Bank operates from Sandyford and Dame Street.
In 2001, management decided to pay €2,032 to all staff working in the Currency Centre in Sandyford in recognition for their extra effort and flexibility with the introduction of the Euro currency.
The dispute before the Court concerns a claim by the Unions on behalf of Security, Cleaning, Catering and Portering staff employed in Dame Street for payment of €2,032 as was paid to the staff in Sandyford.
Management offered to pay €762 to the workers concerned. The offer was rejected. Management agreed to improve on its original offer and proposed to pay €2,032 to staff employed prior to January, 1998, and €762 to staff employed after January, 1998. This offer was also rejected.
The dispute was the subject of a conciliation conference under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission. As agreement was not reached, the dispute was referred to the Labour Court on the 4th of April, 2002, in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990. A Labour Court hearing took place on the 3rd of May, 2002, the earliest date suitable to the parties.
UNIONS' ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. The introduction of the Euro had a similar impact on staff in both locations. While staff in each location carried out different functions, all are equal in importance and value to the overall work of the Bank.
2. The staff concerned worked extremely hard, cooperated and were flexible at the time of the introduction of the Euro currency.
3. All Service Grades employed in Dame Street should not be treated less favourably than the staff in Sandyford. The staff concerned should now receive payment of €2,032 on the same basis as applied to staff in Sandyford.
MANAGEMENT'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. The offer made to the staff concerned represents a generous recognition for the contribution of staff who were not directly impacted by the introduction of the Euro currency.
2. The claim cannot be conceded as it would result in a very significant cost increase for the Bank.
RECOMMENDATION:
In evaluating this claim, the Court has had regard to the fact that the categories of staff associated with this claim and their counterparts at the Currency Centre have always constituted a single negotiating unit. Furthermore, the compensatory payments made to the Clerical and Administrative Grades were primarily in respect of the impact on European Monetary Union.
Since the Service Grades were not part of the agreement relating to EMU, their position cannot be compared to that of the Clerical and Administrative Grades. In the circumstances, the Court accepts that, in line with established arrangements, the Service Grades at the Dame Street location should be treated in line with those at the Currency Centre.
The Court, therefore, recommends that the full amount be paid to all staff in the Dame Street location on the same basis as applied to staff at the currency centre.
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Kevin Duffy
31st May, 2002______________________
GB/BRDeputy Chairman
NOTE
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to Gerardine Buckley, Court Secretary.